Accused of murdering queer youth in Baku brought to court

Yesterday, January 26, a trial was held at the Baku Court on Grave Crimes on the serious LGBTQI+ murder case that occurred in the center of Baku. In the case, the uncle of Yasin Seymur oglu Ibadov, born in 2006, 38-year-old Babek Ibadov, who is accused of murdering him, is charged with premeditated murder.

According to local media, the trial was chaired by judge Elmin Rustamov. The defendant's profile information was clarified in court, and he stated that he was not familiar with the indictment. After a brief deliberation, the next court hearing was set for February 2.

The incident took place on November 4, 2025, on Bashir Safaroglu Street in the Sabail district of Baku. 20-year-old Yasin Ibadov, known as Ruzgar, was stabbed to death multiple times. As a result of the police operation, his uncle, Babek Ibadov, who is suspected of the murder, was detained.

The deceased Yasin Ibadov was reportedly queer. He was known in his inner circle by the nickname "Rüzgar". The incident has raised serious concerns among the LGBTQI+ community in the country and has once again brought the issue of queer safety to the agenda.

A criminal case has been opened regarding the fact and Babek Ibadov has been charged under Articles 120.2.2 (homicide with hooligan intent), 120.2.4 (homicide with special cruelty), 221.3 (hooliganism with the use of weapons) and 228.5 (illegal carrying of cold weapons) of the Criminal Code.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Why local queer media matters and how you can help

For regions like the South Caucasus and Azerbaijan in particular, independent queer media is not a luxury — it’s a lifeline. Mainstream outlets often ignore or misrepresent queer experiences, while official sources exclude them altogether. This is where Minority Azerbaijan has become indispensable, producing investigative reporting, lived experience narratives, contextual analysis, and educational content in English and Azerbaijani.

If you value independent queer journalism grounded in lived realities, expert insight, and fearless reporting, consider supporting Minority Azerbaijan through Patreon. Subscriptions help fund in-depth articles, multimedia stories, community reporting, and advocacy journalism that would otherwise go untold. For €3 a month your support makes it possible for queer voices from Azerbaijan to be seen and heard especially in environments where visibility itself is risky.

Support independent LGBTQ+ media today — 

become a Minority Azerbaijan Patreon subscriber.

Powered by Froala Editor